Jon C. Walker

Jon Walker focuses his practice on representing injured individuals throughout the State of Illinois in workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability claims.

In workers’ compensation claims, Jon has extensive experience litigating repetitive trauma injuries involving auto and assembly employees. These include work injuries to the hands, shoulders and knees against employers such as Chrysler, Ford and Caterpillar. He has also successfully won hearings at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission where employers have defended the claims based on independent contractor agreements; denied the increased risk of the employment; and refused payment and medical treatment based on independent medical examinations. Jon is one of the few attorneys in the State of Illinois taking cases to emergency hearings under Section 19(b-1) of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, which provides for an expedited trial and appellate review.

In claims for Social Security Disability, Jon has successfully represented disabled individuals at all levels before the Social Security Administration. He has won claims for individuals suffering a range of conditions from obesity to sleep apnea to chronic pain. Jon works closely with his clients’ doctors to ensure the Social Security Administration understands the injured individuals’ limitations and why their disability prevents them from working.

In 2015 Jon was recognized by Leading Lawyers as an “Emerging Lawyer.” Emerging Lawyers have been identified by their peers to be among the top lawyers who are age 40 or younger unless they have practiced for no more than 10 years. Less than 2% of all lawyers licensed in each state have received the distinction of Emerging Lawyer.

In both 2013 and 2012 Jon was selected as a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine. The Rising Star recognition is for attorneys under the age of 40. The lawyers are ranked by point totals and those with the highest point totals are named to the Rising Stars list. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the list.

Jon currently previously served on the Board of the Young Lawyers Section of the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers’ Association. In 2011 he was appointed to the Illinois State Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Law Section Council as well as the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee for the evaluation of candidates for judicial offices and sitting judges seeking retention within Cook County. In 2010 he served as a judge in the Chicago Bar Association’s 2010 Winter Moot Court Competition for law students from across the country. In 2009 he finished third in the Chicago Bar Association’s “Most Fit Lawyer Competition” for attorneys 30-39 years of age.

Jon earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2004. He was a finalist in the Frederick Green Moot Court Competition and an active member of the law school ice hockey team. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia in 2001, with a double major in History and English Literature. At UBC he was a member of Golden Key National Honors Society and the Captain of the Faculty of Arts ice hockey team.

He is admitted to practice by the Illinois Supreme Court (November 2004) and by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (January 2005).

When he is not fighting for his clients, Jon can be found traveling to Africa and photographing lions, lifting weights or playing ice hockey. He is active with African lion conservation programs as well as other ecological, wildlife, environmental stewardship and animal rights organizations.

Education

J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 2004

B.A., University of British Columbia, 2001 At UBC he was a member of Golden Key National Honors Society and the Captain of the Faculty of Arts ice hockey team.

Jurisdictions Admitted to PracticeIllinois Supreme Court, 2004U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2005

We serve clients throughout Illinois including, but not limited to, those in the following localities: Cook County including Chicago and Lansing; Adams County including Quincy; Champaign County including Champaign; Coles County including Charleston; DeKalb County including DeKalb; Edgar County including Paris; Effingham County including Effingham; Jefferson County including Mount Vernon; Kane County including Aurora and Elgin; McHenry County including Woodstock; Sangamon County including Springfield; Tazewell County including Pekin; Vermilion County including Danville; Will County including Bolingbrook; and Winnebago County including Rockford.